Chair seat support



Dec. 17, 1946. A. J. RAlTcH CHAIR SEAT SUPPORT Filed Aug. 7, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheenl l t Inl E? 'lH y AlaxandezflRczizch INVENTOR. BY w. www@ ATTORNEY.

DW W 394@ A. J. RAlTcH 2,412,750

l CHAIR SEAT SUPPORT Filed Aug. 7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Alxanderj'. Rach INVENTOR 'lll/111111111114' 'l 1 BY m MJWQ u 'ATTORNEY N, 1%. A.J.RA1TCH 4129750 CHAIR SEAT SUPPORT Filed Aug. '7, 1943 3 sheets-sheet 3 3 FIG. .i f5

asf

ummm

INVENT OR.

KLA LO m14 l AHORA/zu.

Alexander .LRC/itch Patented Dec. 17, 1946 2,412,750 CHAIR SEAT SUPPORT Alexander J. Raitch,

signor, VVby Company,

Application August '7,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in chair seat supports, especially designed and adapted for use on ships.

One application of the invention is in the mess hall or dining hall of ships where the seats are arranged in rows along the sides of the table on which meals are served. AThe quarters of ships, especially those used for military operations, are frequently quite crowded, and, of course, ships of this character must make their voyages regardless of weather conditions. In heavy weather if a seat is free to swivel or tilt or slide, it is uncomfortable and many times dangerous to the occupant of the seat.

The present invention proposes a seat or chair support which provides for positioning of the seat close to the table when it is in use by the occupant, and in which provision is made to secure the whole of the seat against rocking, ro-

tating, or sliding when it is in use, and yet the a usel` of the seat may readily manipulate the same to facilitate his approach to and seating thereon and his arising from and leaving the seat.

A further object is to provide a chair or seat support of this character, which is simple, rugged, closely organized and -compact in construction, easily manipulated, and economical to manufacture and install.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in diametrical, vertical cross section, showing a seat or chair support embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the seat or chair support shown in Figure 1, a portion of the head piece being broken away for the sale of illustration;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal cross section taken on line3--3 of Figure 1, parts being shown in top plan for the sake of illustration;

Figure 4 is a view in transverse, Vertical crossV section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, with parts shown in elevation for the sake of illustration;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in longitudinal, vertical cross section and partly in side elevation showing a modified form of the invention;

v Figure 6 is a view in transverse, horizontal sec- Port Washington, Wis., asmesne assignments, to The Seng Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois 1943, `Serial No. 497,766

tion on line 6--6 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 7 is a view in transverse, vertical cross section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be seenV that in one embodiment of the invention the seat or chair support comprises a base Ill, whichV may be a iiat piece of mild steel, or other suitable metal, and which is directly fastened to the I6. This bearing deck on which the chair is to be supported. `A weld I i may be employed to fasten the base plate Il! to the deck. A post or hollow column I2 is provided and has a flange I3 of annular form welded to its lower end and resting atly on the base plate Ill. Suitable fastening means, such as stud bolts I4 and lock washers I5, securely fasten the flange I3 and consequently also the post I'2 to the base plate I0.

The upper end of the post or column I2 is open and receives a bearing designated generally at I6 has a tubular or sleeve-like body portion I1 which interiorly is of cylindrical form and which is closed at its lower end Vby an integral lower end plate I8. Externally the body portion I6 and the end plate I8 are provided with integral reinforcing and strengtheningribs I9. In this way the structure may be made relatively light and yet is sufficiently strong and rugged tov perform its intended purpose. The upper end of the tubular body portion I'I of the bearing I6 is provided with an integral outwardly directed flange structure designated as a whole at 2l).` When the bearing I6 is assembled with the upper end of the post I2, its tubular body portion I1 extends down into the interior of the: post and its ribs I9 engage the inner peripheral wall of the post. This ange structure 20 of the bearing I6 rests on the upper end of the hollow post and portions of it project outwardly therefrom. TheV bearing I6 is held in place in the post by means of a dowel pin, or other suitable fastening device, designated at 2|.

A vertical shaft I6 for rotation with respect thereto. The periphery of the shaft is in rotative engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body portion I1 of the bearing I6 whereby a radial bearing is and bears against the lower closed end I8 of the bearing sleeve, thereby providing a vertical thrust bearing for the shaft. While the shaft is free to rotate, it is held against axial movement with re- 22 is supported in the bearing i provided for the shaft. The lower end.

of the shaft 22 is beveled as at 23 duced, the supporting plate apertured to receiver the reduced end of the shaft, staked or riveted over a margin of the' opening of the supporting plate to rigidly interconnect these parts.

A head piece, designated: generally atv 2B5 is slidably supported on the plate 2l'. The head channel Z andan upper intertted channel Se..

channel 3U engaged'with the inner'faceof th'eside channels of the channel 259. lIhe base or body portions'Sil and 32 of the channels 2'9 and 3Q are spaced from each other andi this space provides aguideway' or bearing 33"'in which the supporting" plate 2`1-` is slidably fitted. The channels 23 shaft 22 extends throughV this slot head piece 28 Siin Figure 1f.

With this type of construction the seat SV may bef rotated'about'the vertical axis of the post i2 andmay be slid back and-'forth toward the table- (not shown).

provided. iilxed tothe supporting plate 27 while its lower portion projects down through land beyond the slot 3i "so as to be in cooperative relation to stop grecs. The slot 3l has a reduced extension 31a (see Figure 2) which snugly engages the intermediate portion of the pin 36 when the parts are so positioned that the head piece 28 is released ior turning and consequently the pin 35 may be swung into engagement with the stop shoulders'l, and 3.8. l

VTire normal position ofi the seat referred to is the position thereof wherein it faces the table, as it. does when the occupant of the seat is seated therein and in normal position for eating. Means isi provided for biasing the seat to this position and may convemently comprise a coil spring Se or coils surrounding the upperpor-.tinn ofi. the. shaft 22 and having ends or terminals fili" straddling rst an anchoring lug 6i integral" with thelange 2i) and then beyond the lug alsoY straddling the stop pin 3e. With this construction when the seat is swung in either direction, the stop pin 36 moves with it andit iiexes one of the terminals ist theother terminal, however, being movement by the anchoring lug dii.

For the purpose of releasably holding the seat against held against pin or key, designated generally at 42,7is Y:fixed to the rearward portion of the-head piece 28 and depends'therefrom. This locking pin or key' 4'2 is designed for cooperation with the keeper slot or keyway, designatedv at 43, which is in 'xed relation to theI postY l2. The-pin i2 is shown to advantage in Figure 1' andis provided withV a fixed collar or flange @il which engages'the underside of the bottom of te lower channel 29 and` with an` attaching portion 4'5 which extends through an opening in the bottom of the channel 2-9 and is riveted or staked thereto. The lower end' of the locking pin-or key 42 is beveled as'at 46;

The keeper slot or keywayv i3 isA preferably denned by wings 41 which' may be integral4 rearward extensions of the-flange- 29 and which have their confronting faces taperedl as shown, to facilitate entrance of theY pin 42 into the'slot or keyway 43. The keeper'slot asit may, then the pin or key 42' is snugly held by the opposed walls of thev slot 43.

rIf'oreleasably secure-the pin 42' inthe keeper sl'otii't` apivoted latch; designated generally at t8?, i'sv provided. This; latch metal' pivotally mountedV or fulcrumed intermeits ends, as atl-9, on fulcrurn lugs 50 which are integral with andI depend' from the underside' of one of the wings 7; The outer end of' the latch bar 48V is enlarged or weighted;` asv at, 5I, so thatthe inner end ofE the latch is biased to'swing upwardly and in betweenl keeper lugs 52 formed integral with and depending from the-other wing 4T. The: latching bar located in between the lugs 5U andl 52 is provided` with a bevele'd latching tongue or projectionv 56. The bevel of this latching tongue 53 or projection faces the bevellof` the locking pin or key e2 when', the head piecefisI disposed rearwardly or in the)4 posi;- tion shownin Figure 1. Consequently, when the seat is pushedl forwardly, the bevels of thepin 42 and of the latching projection 53- coact to auto matically cam the latching bar 48 down andallow. the pin 42, to ride over its latching projection 53-,` after which theweight or bias of the latching bar 48 .causes its latching projection 53- toV swing upwardly and substantially vertical faces of Ithev pin and latching bar toengage.,thereby-releasably holding the seat against either sliding or of the spring 39,A

is a bar-like piece of turning movement. The user of the chair may readily release the same by grasping the enlarged end 5| of the latch and lifting upwardly on the same.

The forward movement of the seat is limited by the engagement of the rear end wall of the slot 3|'` with the shaft 22. The rearward movement of the seat is limited by the engagement of the pin 36 with the end of the slot extension 31a.

With the construction such as described, the chair or seat may be releasably locked against movement either when in or out of use. The user of the chair may readily conveniently position the same to enable him to seat therein with ease and grace by simply lifting up on the enlarged outer end of the latching bar 48 and pulling rearwardly on the seat. He then may turn the seat in either direction to present it for convenient sitting. When seated, he majT swing around and face the table and then shift forwardly until the latching bar automatically locks the key or locking pin 42 in its keeper slot 43 which consequently secures the seat against either rotating or sliding movement.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 5 to 'l is identical with that shown in Figures 1 to 4 hereinabove described save in three particulars. In this modified form of the invention a ball bearing 60 is incorporated in the thrust bearing between the lower end of the shaft 22 and the lower end wall i8 of the bearing I6. The ball bearings directly engage the lower end wall I8 of the bearing IB and also is accommodated in a conical recess El formed in the lower end of the shaft 22. The second particular in which the modified form of the invention varies from that previously described is in the fact that ball bearings 62 are provided between the supporting plate 21 corresponding to the supporting plate 21 and the lower channel 29 and that similar ball bearings 63 are provided between the top of the supporting plate 21 and the base or body portion of the upper channel 30 of the head piece 28 corresponding to the head piece 28. Due to the provision of the ball bearings 62 and B3 the supporting plate 21 is slightly modified in that it has race-ways 64 and 65 for the ball bearings 62 and 63, respectivel The corner between the body portion and side flanges of the channel 29 provides a race-way complementary to the race-way 64. Race-ways 66 complementary to the raceway 65 are formed in the body portion of the upper channel 30' of the head piece.

The third particular in which the modified form of the invention departs from that form shown in Figures l to 4 is in the formation at the outer end of the latch designated at 48' and correspending to the latch 48. As shown in Figure 7,

this formation, designated at 5|', has an upward projection or hook-like structure which provides a weight and a handle and also forms a support upon which the user of the seat may hang his hat.

In all other respects the two constructions are identical and the description of the form shown in Figures l to- 4 applies to the modification shown in Figures 5 to 7. Corresponding reference numerals have been applied to the elements of the modification shown in Figures 5 to rI wherever the elements are identical, and where their construction has been varied then primed reference characters have been employed. The modified form of the invention operates in exactly the same manner as the form shown in Figures l to 4 save that it i-s freer and smother in its action due to the provision of the ball in the thrust bearing at the lower end of the shaft 22, and due to the provision of the ball bearings which are interposed between the supporting plate at the upper end of the shaft 22 and the channels which go t0 make up the head piece.

While I have shown and described several constructions in which the invention may be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood that the constructions shown have been selected merely for the purpose of illustration or example, and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

1. A chair support comprising a post having its upper end at least hollow, a bearing having a tubular portion interiitted within the upper hollow end of the post, the tubular portion having a closed lower end, a flange structure integral with the upper end of the tubular portion and resting on the top of the post, means for securing the bearing to the post, a vertical shaft having a radial bearing on said tubular portion and having a thrust bearing on the closed lower end thereof, said shaft projecting above the bearing, a guide plate fixed to the upper end of the shaft, a head piece having a guide way within which said guide plate is mounted for relative longitudinal movement, the 'guide plate and guide way constraining the head piece and the guide plate to corresponding rotative movement, a stop pin fixed to the guide plate, -said guide way having a slot therein through which the stop pin projects, stop lugs on the flange structure cooperable with the stop pin to limit turning movement of the guide plate and head piece in either direction7 and releasable means for locking the head piece against turning or sliding movement in one relative adjustment of the head piece and guide plate.

2. A chair support comprising a post having its upper end at least hollow, a bearing having a tubular portion intertted with the upper hollow end of the post, a tubular portion having a closed lower end, a ange structure integral with the upper end of the tubular portion and resting on the top of the post, means for securing the bearing to the post, a vertical shaft having a radial bearing on said tubular portion and having a thrust bearing on the closed lower end thereof, said shaft projecting above the bearing, a guide plate fixed to the upper end of the shaft, a head piece having a guide Way within which said guide plate is mounted for relative longitudinal movement, the guide plate and guide way constraining the head piece and the guide plate to corresponding rotative movement, a Stop pin fixed to the guide plate, said guide way having a slot therein through which the stop pin projects, stop lugs on the ange structure cooperable with the stop pin to limit turning movement of the guide plate and head piece in either direction, a lock pin fixed to the head piece and projecting downwardly therefrom, wings integral with the flange structure and defining a keeper slot with which. said lock pin is cooperable in one relative adjustment of the head piece and guide plate to prevent turning movement of the head piece, and a latch mounted on the wings and cooperable with the lock pin to prevent relative sliding movement of the head piece and guide plate.

3. A seat comprising a post, a combined radial and thrust bearing carried by the upper end of the post, a vertical shaft tted and supported in 8 said bearing. for rotationl and having its uppery the head piece. and supporting and guiding plate,A end projecting above the bearing,v a supporting 5, ahead piece `co n'iprising a post,v a v i tted whereby the head piecefmay slide length- :fined to theupper endfo'i 'the shaft, a head wise of the plate but is constrained to rotate having a guide wayinwhch saidjsuppoi'tizigfand therewith, and means for limiting the extent to guide plate is slidalolly intertted"Wherebythe in either direction' and comprising Ya stop pin io is ycCristiani/c1 te" rotate therewith, mean-sf f and head piece in either direction. t ing terminals embracing pin, an'd'rjn'eans-'iiifed 4, ,A seat comprising a post, a combined radial with respect to 'the post fon resisting movement and thrust bearing carried by the upper end of of either terminal in onedirection-,andfifeleasabl thepost, a verticalshaft fitted and supported in means for locking the jhead piece against sliding said bearing for rotation and having its upper 20 o1' rotative movement relative to. the supporting end projecting above the bearing, a supporting and guide plate in one `longitiidinal adjustment shaft, a head piece having a guide way in which A seat support comprising a post, a shaft said supporting and guide plate is slidably intere rotatively mounted in said post a supportinfr and tted whereby the head piece may side length- 25 c.Hiding plate carried by said shaft a head piece head piece against sliding or rotative movement and sliding motion comprising a pair of interin one relative position of the head piece and engageable members, one of said members being supporting and guide plate and comprising a lock 30 carried by said post and the other 'membercari' pin xed to the head piece and projecting downried by said heady piece,v said members 'being wardly therefrom, means xedly interconnected moved into interengaging Vrelati'inship to pre with the post and defining a keeper slot with vent rotation of said head pieceupoi` slidingVv said porting plate to prevent turningmovement of ing relationship to prevent sliding movement-fof the head piece, and a latch cooperable with the said head piece. l lock pin to prevent relative sliding movement of J. VRAl'IACHT 

